Semen Analysis
SA

Method(s)

Cell Count

Specimen Required

Collect

Semen in sterile container.

Transport

All of semen at body temperature.

Remarks

1. The patient should abstain from sexual intercourse or masturbation for 2-5 days (3 is ideal). Semen samples taken fewer than 2 days after sexual intercourse will have decreased sperm counts and samples taken more than 5 days will have increased counts but decreased movement. Interpretation of semen samples is based on a standard of 3 days. 2. The patient is to empty his bladder of urine prior to semen sample collection. Urine is toxic to sperm and will dilute the specimen. In special circumstances, a post-ejaculate urine specimen may be collected if retrograde ejaculation is suspected. 3. The patient must collect the entire semen specimen by masturbation into a clean plastic container. A urine specimen cup provided by the physician office or the laboratory is ideal. Semen should not be collected in condoms as the spermicides present will dramatically affect test results. Coitus interruptus is not acceptable. The entire specimen must be collected. The first part of the ejaculate is rich in sperm, has a lower pH, and contains the prostatic secretions responsible for liquefaction. The second part of the ejaculate contributes 70% of the volume, is poor in sperm, has a higher pH, and contains the seminal vesicle secretions responsible for coagulation. Loss of specimen will obviously impact the volume measurement and total sperm count. 4. The semen specimen is to be delivered to the laboratory within 1/2 hour. Several tests are time-dependent. The coagulum should liquefy within 30 minutes at 37°C or within 1 hour at room temperature (failure to liquefy may indicate dysfunction of the prostate or loss of the first part of the ejaculate). Sperm motility is another test that needs to be done within 1 hour of collection if optimal results are to be reported. 5. During transport, the specimen container is to be kept inside the patient’s clothes next to his body to keep it close to body temperature. This will also help preserve the semen for accurate test results.